Beyond academics: Meet five U of T grads who made their mark outside the classroom

Crossing the stage at Convocation Hall is the culmination of more than an academic journey.

For many students, the University of Toronto is also where they discovered hidden talents, explored longstanding interests and built lasting friendships and communities.

Meet five members of the Class of 2025 who found their passions in the arts, competition and public service – and who are leaving the university and surrounding community more beautiful, creative and enriched than they found it: 

Yunshan Li, who studied anthropology and psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science as a member of St. Michael’s College, recently came from behind to win the 2025 Canadian Women’s Closed Chess Championship. 

“It was a very tough win,” says Li, who has been playing since age four. She took the title in a tie-break, based on her overall score at the tournament.

During her studies, Li taught chess and played on the Hart House Chess Club’s varsity team. 

“Chess gives me an opportunity to get more involved in the community and feel like I belong,” she says. 

After convocation, Li will compete in the Women’s Chess World Cup in July and begin a master’s degree in social sciences at the University of Chicago. She hopes to pursue a career in user experience design or consulting – ideally back in Canada. 

“I cannot describe how much chess impacted me and it will always be a part of my life.”

Jonathan De Vries, who studied studio art and math at U of T Scarborough, says receiving the 2025 Doris McCarthy Gallery Artistic Practice Award from the department of arts, culture and media, is a “nice bookend to my time at USTC.” He also earned the department’s Atlas Sculpture Award in his first year.

De Vries cheerfully ignores suggestions to narrow his focus to a particular subject or medium. 

“I find joy in materiality and working creatively with unknown things,” says De Vries, who is headed to Nipissing University to study education. “Having experience in many mediums can help me help students find their voices in many mediums.” 

Creating and exhibiting art, along with being a work-study student in the program, kept him connected during his studies. “I met almost everyone in the program and was able to connect and build a really great community that I hope we can carry on even as we all go separate ways beyond U of T.”

Ahsen Bhatti served as president of the Diaspora and Transnational Studies Student Union at the university. Beyond campus, he sits on the board of the Moss Park Arena and is a support worker at the Saint Elizabeth Foundation, a charity that supports end-of-life journeys for vulnerable citizens. 

“I'm very passionate about community and social work, but it can be disheartening to see the magnitude of the problems facing us,” says Bhatti, who earned a degree in political science and diaspora studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science as a member of New College. “Knowing that that effort is visible and impactful encouraged me to keep going,” 

For his efforts, Bhatti received the William R. Gardner Leadership Award by the Arts & Science Students’ Union this spring. The $1,500 prize honours a student who demonstrates leadership on and off campus.

Bhatti is now a co-ordinator with the North York Harvest Food Bank and leaves U of T feeling well prepared. “My degree gave me the theoretical background while my volunteer work gave me the practical background to understand the issues. Without getting involved, I would not have the knowledge I need for this role.”

Princess Rogelyn Saladino played on three championship tri-campus women’s soccer teams during the final year of her criminology, law and society degree at U of T Mississauga – and was named the James J. Rae – Women’s Athlete of the Year by U of T Mississauga in recognition of her leadership, athletic excellence and contributions to athletics and the community. 

She calls the honour “a meaningful way to close out my undergraduate journey and reflects not just my personal efforts, but also the support I’ve received throughout the years.” 

“Sports helped me break out of my comfort zone, build new friendships and regain a sense of belonging,” says Saladino, who also played intramural volleyball and basketball and worked as a lifeguard at the pool. 

It wasn’t always easy. She tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in 2023 and suffered a concussion in 2024. This summer, she’ll undergo a long-put-off ACL repair surgery before embarking on a graduate program in immigration and citizenship law at Queen’s University. 

“I don’t see this as the end of my connection to UTM. I hope to continue giving back in the years to come.”

Charlie Olsen, who is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology, forest biomaterials science and energy systems, is a longtime volunteer at U of T’s Hart House and served as steward and co-chair of the Hart House Theatre student committee this past year.

They were recently awarded the Judi Schwartz Memorial Scholarship, which recognizes students who made exemplary contributions to the centre for experiential education on the St. George campus, which first opened its doors in 1919.

“I’m incredibly honoured,” says Olsen, who began doing tech for live shows in high school and quickly learned they loved doing lights and sounds behind the scenes and meeting a creative community. 

Olsen has accepted an internship with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and says they are grateful for what they learned in class and via volunteer roles. (They also served as vice-president, internal, of the Innis Residence Council.)

“The opportunity to collaborate with so many incredible people was the highlight of my time as an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto.”